Custodians of donor intent
Trustees approve strategy, scrutinise budgets, intervene when drift appears, and ensure every rupee or foreign-currency equivalent matches the dua that preceded it.
Stewardship
The trust placed in every trustee
Trustees safeguard the sanctity of waqf-like intent inside a secular regulatory frame. They owe duties not only to the Charity Commission and HMRC but—more gravely—to Allah and to donors who pledge from halal earnings.
Values-informed education
Several trustees hold advanced secular qualifications alongside Islamic literacy; continuing professional development—including safeguarding, fundraising ethics, and anti-financial-crime norms—is mandatory, not ornamental.
Governance and responsibility
Meetings produce minutes, conflicts of interest surface early, delegated authorities are documented, and the chair keeps space for dissent—because brittle consensus invites failure.
Continuity of family legacy
Serving trustees include children and allies raised in the Gravesend ethos: salaam-first culture, scepticism toward vanity projects, gratitude toward elders who mortgaged comfort for mosque bricks.
Board profiles
Who serves on the board
Each trustee brings named responsibilities; fiduciary duties remain collective, and every decision is weighed against both regulatory duties and the Foundation’s charitable and Islamic aims.
Shahid Aslam
Founder & Chair
Background
UK-qualified solicitor. LLB Hons University College London. Postgraduate Islamic-law studies at SOAS University of London. Longstanding record of public service, including as a former councillor, Justice of the Peace (Magistrate), school governor, and mosque trustee.
Responsibilities
Provides strategic leadership and governance oversight for the Foundation, ensuring that all activities remain aligned with its charitable objectives and Islamic values. Oversees partner due diligence, regulatory compliance, and public accountability on behalf of the descendants of Muhammad Aslam & Khurshid Bibi, while safeguarding the integrity, reputation, and long-term vision of the Foundation.
Amina Parvez
Trustee & Fundraising Lead
Background
LLB University of Greenwich. Passionate about community engagement and ethical charitable giving, with a strong commitment to compassionate and dignified fundraising initiatives.
Responsibilities
Leads fundraising strategy and donor engagement initiatives, ensuring all campaigns are conducted ethically, transparently, and in accordance with the Foundation’s values. Oversees stewardship journeys for supporters and safeguards the dignity and privacy of beneficiaries in all donor communications and appeals.
Noor Aslam
Trustee & Safeguarding Lead
Background
BA Global Development, SOAS University of London. Committed to promoting safe, accountable, and compassionate charitable practices, with a particular focus on the protection of vulnerable individuals and beneficiaries.
Responsibilities
Oversees safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure alignment with Charity Commission expectations and recognised best practice. Ensures that concerns are escalated appropriately and without compromise, fostering a culture of vigilance, accountability, and care throughout the Foundation’s activities.
M. Azeem Asif
Trustee & Lead International Coordinator
Background
B.Eng. Chemical Engineering, University of Surrey. Committed to supporting international charitable initiatives and maintaining oversight of overseas project delivery and operational accountability.
Responsibilities
Coordinates international charitable activities and oversees relationships with overseas delivery partners and implementers. Reviews financial-control measures, monitors operational integrity, and undertakes humanitarian oversight visits where safe and appropriate. Escalates any concerns relating to misuse of funds, fraud, or governance failures promptly and responsibly.
Waqaz Arif
Trustee & Treasurer
Background
BA Accounting & Finance, Middlesex University. ACCA Finalist. Responsible for supporting sound financial governance and ensuring the prudent stewardship of charitable funds and resources.
Responsibilities
Oversees financial management, accounting structures, and reporting processes of the Foundation. Maintains appropriate segregation of restricted and unrestricted funds, monitors treasury and remittance practices, and supports transparent financial oversight in accordance with Charity Commission expectations and good governance principles.
M. Suleman Aslam
Trustee & Secretary
Background
LLB University of Hertfordshire. Legal Practice Course, University of Law. Supports the Foundation’s governance and administrative functions with a focus on accountability, organisation, and procedural integrity.
Responsibilities
Maintains accurate trustee minutes, governance records, AGM documentation, and delegated-authority registers. Supports regulatory correspondence and ensures that information requests, filings, and governance obligations are addressed accurately and within required timeframes.
Governance model
How trustee governance protects donor trust
Role clarity
- Defined leadership responsibilities
- Transparent conflicts-of-interest disclosures
- Structured delegation matrices
Policy-led management
- Safeguarding & anti-bribery controls
- Financial governance checkpoints
- Communications fidelity to audited facts
Impact stewardship
- Mission-aligned project scoring
- Monitoring visits & third-party attestations where proportionate
- Donor-centred escalation when delivery drifts
Adāb before spreadsheets
Ayāt that surface in board packs
Islamic quotations are not window dressing—they justify why we tolerate slower disbursement rather than unethical speed.
The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies for whom He wills.
Those who spend their wealth in charity by night and by day, secretly and openly—they shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.